Spine stabilization

A device for stabilizing bones of a patient, comprising:

• a receiver portion defining a central longitudinal axis and a body defining a chamber extending along the central longitudinal axis, the body including:
• a plurality of apertures for receiving a bone fastener for attachment to a first vertebral body of the patient, wherein the plurality of apertures are laterally offset from the central longitudinal axis;
• two projecting surfaces, having a first end and second end, disposed on a top surface of the receiver portion extending laterally towards the central longitudinal axis and towards each other, wherein each of the projecting surfaces is configured to flex laterally to the central longitudinal axis, the second end being a free end configured to flex relative to the first end;
• a limiter disposed near the second end of each of the projecting surfaces and extending into the chamber;
• and
• first and second grooves extending longitudinally in the chamber;
• and
• an insert portion extending along the central longitudinal axis including:
• a plurality of apertures, for receiving a bone fastener for attachment to a second vertebral body of the patient, wherein the plurality of apertures are laterally offset from the central longitudinal axis;
• a projection sized to be longitudinally received in the chamber of the receiver portion and having first and second rails corresponding to the respective grooves;
• and
• two catches disposed on the projection, each catch of the two catches configured to engage one of the limiters when the chamber receives the projection, the second end of each projecting surface configured to flex so as allow each limiter to admit passage of each catch when the projection is received in the chamber.