A medical instrument for grasping an object (36) is shown, in particular a surgical needle holder, comprising an elongated shaft (18 118), two jaw parts (28, 30 128, 130) arranged at a distal end of the shaft (18 118), at least one of the jaw parts (28, 30 128, 130) being pivotable with respect to the other of the jaw parts (28, 30 128, 130) between a grasp state for grasping the object (36) between the jaw parts (28, 30 128, 130) and a release state for releasing the object (36), a handle (16 116) arranged at a proximal end of the shaft (18 118) and having at least one operating element (42 142) for moving the at least one pivotable jaw part (30 130) between the grasp state and the release state via an axially movable force transmission element (38 138) operatively connected with the least one operating element (42 142) and with the at least one pivotable jaw part (30 132) via an articulated joint (44 144), and further comprising a latching mechanism (58 158) for immobilizing the at least one pivotable jaw part (30 130) in the grasp state. The latching mechanism (58 158) comprises at least one latching element (60 160) arranged in the region of the force transmission from the force transmission (38 138) element to the at least one pivotable jaw part (30 130) which, when the force transmission element (38 138) is further axially moved beyond a position in which the grasp state is reached, changes into an over-centre stable state. The force transmission element comprises a helix or coil.
