Medical Instrument For Grasping An Object, In Particular Needle Holder

A medical instrument for grasping an object, comprising

• an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end,
• two jaw parts arranged at said distal end of said shaft, at least one of said two jaw parts being pivotable with respect to the other of said two jaw parts between a grasp state for grasping said object between said two jaw parts and a release state for releasing said object,
• a handle arranged at said proximal end of said shaft and having at least one operating element for moving said at least one pivotable jaw part between said grasp state and said release state,
• an axially movable force transmission element having a first end operatively connected with said at least one operating element, and a second end connected with said at least one pivotable jaw part via an articulated joint,
• a latching mechanism for immobilizing said at least one pivotable jaw part in said grasp state, said latching mechanism comprising at least one latching element arranged in the region of the force transmission from said force transmission element to said at least one pivotable jaw part which, when said force transmission element is further axially moved beyond a position in which said grasp state is reached, changes into an over-center stable state.