Patent ID: 8882799

Claim:
A medical instrument for grasping an object, in particular a surgical needle holder, comprising: an elongated shaft, having a proximal and a distal end, an axially movable force transmission element running within said shaft, two jaw parts arranged at said distal end of said shaft, at least one of said jaw parts being pivotable with respect to the other one of said jaw parts, a connection element for operatively connecting said force transmission element with said at least one pivotable jaw part, a connection pin, a handle arranged at said proximal end of said shaft, said handle having at least one operating element for moving said at least one pivotable jaw part, and a latching mechanism, said latching mechanism comprising: at least one latching element being at least a part of said connection element, and at least three latching positions, said latching element comprising an elongated opening to accommodate said connection pin, said elongated opening comprising: two opposing longer walls, and periodical projections on at least one of said opposing walls along the length of said elongated opening, wherein said at least one pivotable jaw part is pivotable between a grasp state for grasping said object between said jaw parts and a release state for releasing said object by said operating element, and said axially movable force transmission element is operatively connected with said at least one operating element and with said at least one pivotable jaw part via said connection element, said at least one pivotable jaw part can be immobilized in said grasp state by said latching mechanism, wherein said latching element is operatively connected to said force transmission element and said at least one pivotable jaw part, said at least one pivotable jaw part being connected with said latching element via said connection pin, and wherein said elongated opening is divided in several sections along its length, said sections being formed by said periodical projections, and wherein each of said sections forms one of said latching positions, such that said at least one pivotable jaw part pivots stepwise from one stable latched position to another stable latched position, when said transmission element is moved axially.