The medical instrument (1) has a tool including a movable jaw part and arranged at a distal end of a hollow shaft (2). A handle (3) provided with a movable grip part (3b) is arranged at a proximal end of the shaft. Fixed and movable components (10, 12) are arranged in a housing (9) of a force limiting device (8) such that the fixed component is supported in the housing and the movable component is axially displaceable in the housing against force of a spring element (11). The components are coupled with each other over a force transmitting element (13) e.g. ball.
