A handheld device for extracting tissue samples includes a needle arrangement and control arrangement. The needle arrangement has a cutting needle, a sample extraction needle, and a first end for inserting into tissue. The cutting needle has a cutting edge for cutting the tissue sample. The sample extraction needle has a side opening for receiving the tissue. The control arrangement has a vacuum chamber in fluid communication with the sample extraction needle. The vacuum chamber has a first member and a second member that move relative to each other. The first member is mechanically connected to the cutting needle. The handheld device is configured so that movement between the first and second members to increase volume of the vacuum chamber thereby reduces pressure in the sample extraction needle, induces movement between the cutting needle and the sample extraction needle to expose the side opening.
