An electrosurgical return electrode is disclosed. The return electrode includes a conductive propellent-actuated device having one or more temperature monitoring zones and a patient-contacting surface configured to conduct electrosurgical energy and a temperature sensing circuit coupled to the conductive propellent-actuated device. The temperature sensing circuit includes at least one diode disposed within at least one temperature monitoring zone and at least one diode having a predetermined forward voltage drop that is indicative of temperature of at least one temperature monitoring zone.
