When retired tech executive Tracey McGillivray's father, Ray, began experiencing minor falls at home in 2019, she was frustrated by the lack of available solutions to help him recover safely on his own. Identifying a gap in the market, she reached out to fellow Acadia University alumnus Liam Masskant, an up-and-coming researcher who had just transitioned to Dalhousie University to complete his mechanical engineering degree, and the idea for a revolutionary new mobility device was born.
Fast-forward to 2025 and the RAYMEX® high-tech lift - an innovative lift, fall recovery aid, transfer aid, rollator walker and sit-to-stand rehab device all in one sleek, rechargeable unit - is not only a reality, but is entering full production in rural Nova Scotia at Axtion Independence Mobility Inc., the MedTech startup McGillivray and Masskant co-founded to launch their innovation. What's more, 90% of the first made-in-Canada' devices to roll off the assembly line are already sold.
"Here we are in the third decade of the 21st century, where we have robots that vacuum our floors and electric vehicles that drive themselves, and yet no one had figured out how to help someone get up off of the ground independently after a minor fall," said McGillivray, pointing to statistics that indicate as many as 15% of emergency medical calls are for lift assist.
"Yes, we have transfer aids, high-end lifts and rollator walkers, but they typically serve one purpose only and require another person's help to work. Our groundbreaking lift is the first to support self rescue, plus it offers a whole host of other state-of-the-art design features as well," she said.
McGillivray is quick to add that the young company wouldn't be where it is today without the support of incubators and funding organizations like Mitacs, a leading innovation organization that connects businesses and researchers to drive collaboration, deploy skilled talent, and build innovation capacity to strengthen Canada's productivity and global competitiveness. Working closely with Dalhousie University mechanical engineering professor Dr. Clifton Johnston, Axtion secured multiple Mitacs research internships and received critical product development guidance early on, giving McGillivray and Masskant a leg up as they evolved their design.
"From day one, Dr. Johnston instilled in us a mindset of iterative prototyping, the importance of critical user and clinical reviews, and a better understanding of the whole design-to-build process with human-centred design at the core," said McGillivray, recalling how early prototypes developed by research interns - including Masskant, who received Mitacs funding to work on his startup and his engineering degrees simultaneously - evolved from wooden designs cobbled together with car jack parts and electric drill motors to the sophisticated, award-winning design now in production.
"Mitacs funding was a dream come true for me," said Masskant. "I always thought that if a real cool opportunity presented itself, I would put myself out there and get involved. Then Tracey and I met through a random Acadia alumni connection, and it just grew from there."
Johnston credits Mitacs for bringing varied perspectives to complex problem solving. "Students bring a fresh and different perspective," he said, applauding the research interns for helping to perfect the startup's breakthrough design. "If you look at one of the initial mock-ups we did with input from students, there's been some refinement, but that basic concept carries through to the final product," he said.
McGillivray explained that "the guidance we received from Dr. Johnston and the Mitacs program easily sped our design process by a year and saved us nearly $1 million in development costs - they provided the rigour and discipline we need to fast-track our product from idea to commercialization."
According to Mitacs CEO Stephen Lucas, "Mitacs places top-tier talent in Canadian firms, especially SMEs, to support industry-academia collaboration. This helps unlock innovation potential, de-risk R&D for firms, and build lasting academic-industry relationships. Our national reach, international connections, and ability to broker cross-sectoral partnerships allow us to deliver results at scale, helping Canadian businesses compete globally while developing the next generation of a skilled and innovative workforce."
Expected to be available in stores this month, the RAYMEX® Lift is sold through the reseller network in Canada, with Harding Medical the first to acquire the product in Atlantic Canada. Axtion is also selling within the U.S., U.K. and Europe, and has struck deals with organizations like Veteran Affairs Canada, U.S. Veteran Affairs, and the leading provider of fall prevention and recovery aids to the National Health Service in the U.K., Felgains Limited.
What sets the rechargeable lift apart from other devices on the market is its revolutionary design, starting with the unique way it folds in half and the onboard electronics that allow the seat to safely adjust up and down at the touch of a button, using a preset seat memory feature similar to the one found in cars to prevent users from rising to an unsafe height. After a fall, the seat can be lowered to be flush with the floor so that a user can easily maneuver themselves on and then push accessible buttons located on each handle to rise.
"There's no other lift in the world that can do that. Every other model requires someone to bring it to you," said McGillivray, adding that Axtion has conducted studies to show how conventional lifts used in most long-term care homes require an aid to bend a minimum of eight times as they manipulate a fallen resident onto current lifts. "With ours, that number is zero, as long as the resident has trunk control," she explained.
The RAYMEX® is also the only device of its kind to feature a seat that moves on three planes: it moves up and down vertically, it folds up for storage and navigating narrower spaces and it rotates out of the way completely for toileting and so that a user can stand inside, using the frame for support while working at counter height as part of their rehabilitation. The device also supports independent living by giving users easy access to lower drawers and unlike other mobility devices that come in different sizes according to a person's height, the RAYMEX® is a one size fits all model that can be safely used by someone four feet tall or someone six feet eight inches tall.
Powered by a lithium-ion battery, the device can power 30 lifts at 300 pounds on one charge and is easily recharged using a standard charging port. It is three times smaller than other lift aids on the market and only requires clearance on one side whereas other models require clearance on all four sides. Additional smart features include automatic braking once the seat is engaged and a safety shutoff when a sudden shift in weight is detected.
About Mitacs
As a leading Canadian innovation organization, Mitacs connects businesses and researchers with unrivalled access to talent, financial support, and the partnerships needed to turn ideas into impactful innovations. Through unique collaborations, Mitacs is driving productivity and positioning Canada as a global innovation leader. Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon.
