A device for obtaining a skin graft, the device comprising: a harvester configured for placement on a target region of a patient's skin and further adapted to form a sealing engagement with a head that provides negative pressure to the target region such that the target region of skin is embraced within an evacuated chamber, the harvester further comprising: at least one alignment plate (2008 and 2006) having a plurality of holes (2032 and 2030) through which skin blisters can be raised in the presence of negative pressure; and a cutting plate having at least one cutting surface for cleaving skin blisters after they are formed within the chamber; wherein the cutting plate includes a plurality of holes suitable for concentric alignment with holes (2032 and 2030) in the alignment plate (2008 and 2006) in the first position to facilitate blister formation and a plurality of cutting surfaces suitable for cleaving blister in the second position, wherein the device further comprises an actuator for moving the cutting plate from the first position to the second position, characterized in that a single stroke of the actuator moves the cutting plate from the first position to the second position so as to cleave the skin blister and from the second position to the first position to at least partially retract the cutting plate. a harvester configured for placement on a target region of a patient's skin and further adapted to form a sealing engagement with a head that provides negative pressure to the target region such that the target region of skin is embraced within an evacuated chamber, the harvester further comprising: at least one alignment plate (2008 and 2006) having a plurality of holes (2032 and 2030) through which skin blisters can be raised in the presence of negative pressure; and a cutting plate having at least one cutting surface for cleaving skin blisters after they are formed within the chamber; wherein the cutting plate includes a plurality of holes suitable for concentric alignment with holes (2032 and 2030) in the alignment plate (2008 and 2006) in the first position to facilitate blister formation and a plurality of cutting surfaces suitable for cleaving blister in the second position, wherein the device further comprises an actuator for moving the cutting plate from the first position to the second position, characterized in that a single stroke of the actuator moves the cutting plate from the first position to the second position so as to cleave the skin blister and from the second position to the first position to at least partially retract the cutting plate. at least one alignment plate (2008 and 2006) having a plurality of holes (2032 and 2030) through which skin blisters can be raised in the presence of negative pressure; and a cutting plate having at least one cutting surface for cleaving skin blisters after they are formed within the chamber; wherein the cutting plate includes a plurality of holes suitable for concentric alignment with holes (2032 and 2030) in the alignment plate (2008 and 2006) in the first position to facilitate blister formation and a plurality of cutting surfaces suitable for cleaving blister in the second position, wherein the device further comprises an actuator for moving the cutting plate from the first position to the second position, characterized in that a single stroke of the actuator moves the cutting plate from the first position to the second position so as to cleave the skin blister and from the second position to the first position to at least partially retract the cutting plate.