This in vitro investigation characterized temperature changes associated with radiofrequency (RF) energy induced heating of bovine articular cartilage using temperature-controlled, monopolar (Vulcan RF system and Vulcan, TAC-S Electrothermal Probe) and bipolar (VAPR II RF system and VAPR TC RF electrode) electrosurgical equipment. The RF generators were used at the same setting (set temperature 70°C; 30 W). The cartilage tissue sample was placed in a saline bath maintained at room temperature. Temperatures were recorded using fluoroptic thermometry at the RF electrode–tissue interface at 1-s intervals before, during deliver of RF energy (1- and 2-s), and after (1- to 3-s). For both electrosurgical systems the mean RF electrode–tissue interface temperatures were significantly (P<0.05) higher than the mean baseline value during delivery of RF energy (monopolar, highest mean temperature, 65.7°C; bipolar, highest mean temperature, 54.1°C). In general, during and after the deliver of RF energy, the monopolar RF system produced tissue temperatures that were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those produced by the bipolar RF system. Neither electrosurgical system exceeded the set temperature of 70°C. These findings provide basic tissue temperature characteristics for the newly developed, temperature-controlled RF devices applied to articular cartilage.