Dispersive return pad with phase change material for active thermal management during an ablation procedure

A dispersive return pad for a radiofrequency ablation procedure includes a skin material adapted to be worn on a patient's skin, a conductive material positioned adjacent to the skin material, a non-conductive material surrounding the conductive material, and a phase-change material surrounding at least a portion of a side edge of the conductive material. Further, the phase-change material is configured to undergo a phase transition at a target temperature range corresponding to a non-damaging hyperthermic temperature range for the patient's skin. As such, the phase-change material is configured to absorb excess heating from the RF ablation procedure and to prevent burns to the patient's skin.