A rotational atherectomy device having a handle housing and an exchangeable drive shaft cartridge. The handle housing includes a rotatable prime mover carried by a prime mover carriage which is longitudinally movable with respect to the handle housing. The exchangeable drive shaft cartridge includes a cartridge housing, a longitudinally extendable tube, a catheter and a rotatable drive shaft which, near its distal end, has an abrasive tissue removal implement. The cartridge housing may be attached to and detached from the handle housing, the longitudinally extendable tube may be attached to and detached from the prime mover carriage, and the drive shaft together with its tissue removal implement may be attached to and detached from the prime mover, thereby permitting the exchangeable drive shaft cartridge to be selectively attached to and detached from the handle housing.